Dubbing the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities’ Affairs, as a heinous conspiracy against Pakistan, Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has condemned his killing in broad day-light in the strongest possible words. He said that a Muslim cannot commit such a reprehensible crime. The impression of Pakistan being an insecure state would spread in the world following this foul murder of a serving federal minister and it would have negative implications for Pakistan’s already fragile economy.

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the anti-Pakistan elements are using the extremist and terrorist forces to undermine the security and integrity of Pakistan and the country’s image would suffer after this murder. He demanded of the government to take urgent steps for elimination of secular and religious extremisms in the country.

“This incident proves that the law enforcement agencies have failed to meet the challenge and lack of concerted efforts to eradicate terrorism and extremism at strategic level is the major cause behind this killing of the minister,” he added. Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri emphasized the need of solid planning to uproot terrorism from the country.